Maretzek Italian Opera: Lucrezia Borgia

“Donizetti’s ‘Lucrezia Borgia’ was repeated last evening at our Academy of Music with the same complete cast as on the first representation for the season of this most attractive opera. We wish to speak in terms of praise of the admirable manner in which it was put on the stage. The costumes were exceedingly rich and appropriate, the choruses were sung with rare ensemble and effect, while Signor Nuno merited great praise for the perfect accord of his large and efficient orchestra.

The artists who sang the principal roles – Mme. Medori, Mlle. Sulzer, Mazzoleni and Biachi – were as successful last evening as on Monday, and created the same furor. We have never seen Medori and Mazzoleni appear to greater advantage. In the many dramatic situations which abound in this opera they were very effective. In the celebrated trio between the Duke, Duchess and Gennaro, Mazzoleni sang the ‘Madremia’ exquisitely. The trio was tumultuously applauded, and an encore was obtained by the delighted public.”

“The opera last night was better than on Monday. The house was full, the singers in excellent voice, and the performance of ‘Lucrezia’ all that could be desired. The choruses are an especial credit to the Academy this season.”

“The second performance of ‘Lucrezia Borgia,’ last evening, was as complete a success as on the first night, and the house was a perfect bouquet. We have nothing to add to our former commendation of the performance, except to express the hope that it may be again repeated.”

Sold out event.  Mad. Medori is a “Lucrezia” such as has been rarely seen.  Her performance in selective scenes was excellent, almost overwhelmingly so.  The same applies to Mazzoleni who performed the last scene with a stirring naturalness.  In the “madre mia” of the trio of the second act, he was able to sing it smoothly and elegantly, unlike many tenors who tend to shout through this part.  However, we would have preferred for him to save us from the high b in the cavatina “Di Pescatore ignobile.”  Those high b flats, b’s and c’s might be able to carry away the audience to enthusiastic applause, but they will never be approved by the more sensitive ears of the musically educated.  There is nothing much to say about Ms. Sulzer’s “Orsini”; she lacks the required “fire” in acting and singing for this role.  However, in the third act, she was asked to repeat the “Trinklied.”  Signor Biachi as the Duke was excellent as usual.  The opera itself went as well as the performance on Monday.

“The most successful performance of the week was ‘Lucretia’ [sic]. The whole company was distributed in the cast, and the performance was so gratifying, that a repetition of the opera was demanded and given on the succeeding opera night.”